Defect Detection and Imaging in Composite Structures Using Magnetostrictive Patch Transducers.

The use of thin magnetostrictive patches to generate and detect guided waves within the composite samples is investigated for defect detection. This approach has been implemented using SH0 shear horizontal guided waves in both CFRP and GFRP plates. A magnetostrictive patch transducer was able to generate SH0 waves with known directional characteristics.

The Effect of Changes in Magnetic Field and Frequency on the Vibration of a Thin Magnetostrictive Patch as a Tool for Generating Guided Ultrasonic Waves.

A set of experiments was designed and conducted to investigate the vibrational ultrasonic response of a thin magnetostrictive patch bonded to a glass plate, with changes in static and dynamic magnetic fields applied to the patch. Such arrangements are often used as a means of generating guided waves in pipes or plates, by attaching a patch to a sample's surface. The effect of varying the applied static and dynamic magnetic field's amplitudes and directions and the frequency of the dynamic magnetic field was studied.

Development of a Flexible Dielectric Sensor for Flow Monitoring of the Liquid Resin Infusion Process.

The analysis and design of a novel flexible dielectric sensor, which can be integrated into a composite materials manufacturing process to measure the resin frontal flow, is presented in this paper. The proposed sensor consists of two parallel line electrodes and a ground plane covered by a dielectric material. The analytical description and the electrostatic modelling were considered for the design of the sensor and to enhance the understanding of the response of the sensor to the resin impregnation of a carbon fabric during the infusion phase.